APPLETON Thorn Village Hall has achieved a record-breaking double success after winning CAMRA’s Club of the Year and receiving a special Gold Award to mark the 50th anniversary of the real ale campaign group.
CAMRA (Campaign for real ale) members and locals gathered for the presentation of the two awards by the Mayor of Warrington, Cllr Maureen Creaghan.
The first was the CAMRA North Cheshire branch Club of the Year 2021.
Commenting on the success Andrew Edwards, Chair of CAMRA North Cheshire branch, said: “The Village Hall continues to set the highest standards year on year and deserves this accolade.”
With CAMRA celebrating its 50th anniversary, 32 pubs and clubs have received a golden award with Appleton Thorn Village Hall being one of two clubs nationally to win a Gold Award and a Club of the Year award.
CAMRA Regional Director for Merseyside and Cheshire, Nick Bosley, reflected how this was for continual achievement over the last 30 years, including being National Club of the Year for a record-breaking four times and numerous times runner up.
Accepting the awards landlord Kris Massey thanked all the bar staff, the club committee and volunteers for their teamwork.
“It may look easy but certainly isn’t and everyone plays their part to the club’s success,” he said.
Joining the celebrations was his father Derek Massey on the eve of his 70th birthday.
It is the only club to have won the National Club of the Year competition, run annually by CAMRA, for a record number of 4 times from the ’90s to 2019, being the most recent. As well as the quality of its cask beer, cider and perry the club also receives praise from judges for its place in the heart of the Community.
Picture shows (L-R) Kris and Derek Massey, the Mayor, Village Hall Chairman Geoff Plass and Andrew Edwards from CAMRA.
